ioi8 Veterinary Obstetrics 



the tincture of iodine or of other antiseptics in alcoholic solution^ 

 They have the advantage that the alcohol quickly evaporates and 

 leaves the antiseptic behind in a dry state. It may be equally- 

 effective to apply a wet dressing to the part, in the form of an 

 antiseptic pack, to be retained in position by means of a band- 

 age. If this is attempted, the pack needs be kept constantly 

 saturated with the antiseptic and frequently renewed. 



When the infection has become general, and septicaemia or 

 pyaemia has developed, all forms of handling become almost 

 hopeless. In accordance with general surgical principles, we 

 would promptly open abscesses, and disinfect their cavities- 

 whether they involve the muscles or the articulations. Inter- 

 nally there may be given various antiseptics, and we especially 

 recommend large and repeated doses of quinine, or in the foal 

 we may add to the quinine large doses of potassium iodide, or 

 supplant the quinine by the iodide. 



Recent developments in opsonic and serum therapy have 

 aroused interest, and in the minds of some, hope has been estab- 

 lished that pyo-septicsemia of the new-born may be brought 

 under control. As yet, the problem is undecided. Spencer 

 (Proc. Am. Vet. Med. Ass'cn., 1908, p. 393) claims definite re- 

 sults in severe cases, but the data submitted are not convincing. 

 Most of his cases were comparatively old foals, in a fair proportion 

 of which .spontaneous recovery might have been anticipated. 

 He gave 10 cc. of anti-streptococcic serum subcutaneously, 

 daily. No evidence is submitted that the foals had streptococcic 

 infection. If the infection was streptococcic, we have no evi- 

 dence that the serum was from the same organism. In about 

 half his cases, S. used influenza serum instead of the antistrep- 

 tococcic preparation. In one case he combined them. Were 

 we to accept the conclusion that the sera acted specifically in 

 these c?ases, we would be forced into the position that the charac- 

 ter of the infection is unimportant, and all that is necessary is- 

 to buy some kind of .serum from a manufacturer, administer it 

 in any kind of infection, and get a speedy cure. 



It is to be sincerely hoped that investigations along these lines- 

 may develop a safe and reliable remedy for umbilic infection of 

 the new-born, but until we are supplied with more definite data, 

 regarding this or other remedies, the practitioner needs rely upon 

 prophylaxis, not upon therapeutics. 



